Eye Shadow -Christian Dior - 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow - Grege 734
LUVrascal 1/23/2013 5:58:00 PM
I don't know how this isn't more popular--it's really gorgeous. At a glance it's sort of unremarkable, but once on it's a beautiful medley of subtle grays, taupes, and browns. For an everyday look, or just for something natural, I much prefer this over Incognito. My skin is cool toned, pale, about an NC10 at a guess, and these show up well on me without washing me out or clashing with my skin. Soft but not too powdery, pigmented, and easy to blend and layer. The shimmer is tasteful, none of the frost finishes that crop up in some of Dior's quints. The bottom left shade has more of a satin finish and works well as a liner. The upper left is a gingerbread/antiqued gold; the upper right is a cool white; the bottom right is a cool, stone grey; the bottom left is a cool, bruised, deep brown (my favorite in the palette); and the center is a cool, silvery buff that looks stunning as a wash across the lids. This goes a long way for me since I use one or more of the shadows in a lot of different looks. I think it's one of Dior's better palettes, especially considering the restraint that was used in the finishes.
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Mascara -Chanel - Le Volume De Chanel
LUVrascal 1/17/2013 4:42:00 PM
This does clump on me once in awhile if I'm not careful, but other than that this works really well for me. It lengthens, thickens, and holds a curl all day long. It's really dramatic, so I wouldn't recommend if you prefer natural, fluttery lashes. My lashes are already pretty long, but I'm lacking in thickness so I always like volumizing mascaras. My lashes almost touch my eyebrows when I use this, and look extremely decadent, almost over-the-top. I don't have to add too many layers when I use this (I'm layer crazy), about two does the job perfectly. The formula isn't thin, but it is wet and stays that way longer than most. I can move from eye to eye for a couple minutes and work with it if I need to or add layers easily without it drying up fast. It's a little annoying if I'm in a rush though because it can transfer to my upper lid if I'm not careful to let it sit and dry first. Also, it can migrate to my lower lashes when I blink. So a faster drying time would've been better for me just because of the potential for messiness. No flaking, which I love, and once it's dry it doesn't budge. My lashes don't feel brittle or stiff, they're pliant but coated. I use a cleansing oil to remove it because it does leave residue if I only use my facial cleanser. It's not water-resistant though because watery eyes or rain will have to smearing everywhere. The wand is rubbery and flexible, with short, spaced out rubber bristles, so there's always some product build-up. All in all, I like this a lot, much better than Inimitable and Inimitable Intense. My favorite is still GA Eyes to Kill Stretch but this is a close second.
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Palettes -Burberry - Complete Eye Palette in Pale Nude No. 03
LUVrascal 1/14/2013 5:18:00 PM
If you're familiar with Dior's Incognito eyeshadow quint then you'll already have some idea of what this looks like. This is a beautiful palette, especially if you're a fan of subtle, softer eyeshadow looks. It's one of those works-with-anything palettes without being in the brown range like so many of those types of palettes are. I love Burberry shadows, they're so pigmented and dense, easy to blend and work with, and they're so powdery soft. I've mentioned this in my other reviews of the line, but many of the shadows have this gleam that reads as a burnished patina that I've never seen in another shadow range. Not quite shimmery, not quite metallic, just an understated glow that's really flattering. So while I already have the Dior palette and didn't need something so similar, I couldn't resist that amazing finish. The two palettes are incredibly alike; in a side by side comparison they share four shades that are in the same color family. Here there's a white, a pale vanilla-yellow-gold, a pink tinged nude, and a warm almond. All that's missing is the gray shadow that's included in Incognito. But where the Incognito shades are muted, these are more true in color, so they appear slightly brighter and less toned down. That's not to say they're vivid or intense, simply more clean versions of each color. I found that they translate well onto my skin; how they appear in the pan is how they show up once applied, with the exception of the white shade, which is more sheer and has more visible shimmer than the others. I don't usually bother with a primer and they wore all day without creasing or fading, though my skin is on the normal to slightly dry side so I don't typically have issues with eyeshadow longevity. So, a more detailed description of the colors below. Sorry for the longer post! White: Pure, cool-toned white without any underlying gray. The only shade in the palette with a visible mixture of silver and white shimmer. Applies more sheerly than the other colors but still shows up well. Looks great as a brow/tear duct highlighter. Gold: Subtle, warm-toned, creamy pale yellow. Not "gold" by any means. Doesn't clash with my cool-toned skin, which as a rule doesn't work well with yellows. Very subtle gleam, no visible shimmer, just a delicate shine. Pink: Subtle, warm-toned, nude-pink with some soft, barely there brown undertones. It's really beautiful, the stand out for me. Same finish as the yellow shade but with a touch of visible silvery shimmer. Brown: Warm-toned, medium almond brown. I use it as a crease shade but also looks nice all over the lid with the pink shade in the crease. There's some barely there gold micro-shimmer and that gleaming finish. I never use the included applicators in palettes so I'm glad that this case just features the four shadows and a mirror. It's the same polished gunmetal packaging as the rest of the line with a magnetic closure. It does show fingerprints but other than that no complaints here. If Incognito wasn't everything you hoped it would be, or if you're looking to try the Burberry line out then I'd suggest trying this out. It's versatile enough to be a good starting point if you're new to the line or just looking for something that you can get a lot of use from. I was concerned that this was a mistake when I purchased this because of how similar it is to Incognito but I prefer this over the Dior. A couple of the Incognito shades just didn't look that great on me, especially the center apricot one, and I find that these work much better with my coloring.
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Styling Products -Oribe - Creme for Style
LUVrascal 1/10/2013 6:16:00 PM
My hair is fine, color treated, bottom of the shoulder blade length, healthy, normal (as far as oiliness or dryness goes) and I have lots of it. Other than a leave in cream conditioner I don't use cream styling products regularly because it can weigh my hair down and pull out my natural wave. But despite being marketed towards medium-thick hair types this works so well for me. It adds softness and a lot of sleekness and shine. It's one the the only cream products I've tried that adds some volume too without feeling unnaturally thickened or hardened at the root area. I use about a quarter sized blob and rub my hands together then distribute throughout damp hair after my leave-in conditioner, then comb through. I give it an easy blowdry and it gives it a straightened, blow-out effect without any flyaways. Adds a little memory and makes it looks really healthy. It reminds me of B&B Grooming Creme as far as the lightness of texture goes but this adds volume and feels more like a styling product than a finishing cream like the B&B does. The consistency is lighter and less runny than the B&B, and doesn't feel tacky or sticky. No residue or build up at all, and actually it doesn't feel like I'm wearing anything when I run my fingers through my hair. I use a dab of it here and there throughout the day sometimes for extra tameness of hold, and because I'm addicted to the scent. The fragrance is faint and pretty and fresh. It's only noticeable in the tube and when first applying, otherwise my hair just smells clean after using it. I like the tube packaging as well. It's my favorite of the Oribe products I've tried so far and easily one of my HG hair products. It makes a big difference in how my hair looks.
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Styling Products -Oribe - Dry Texturizing Spray
LUVrascal 1/10/2013 5:55:00 PM
If strong fragrances in your hair products aren't your thing then sail right on by this one. It's one of the most powerful scents I've ever come across in a product, and it lingers for at least an hour or so, masking everything else in its path. It eventually fades and leaves a hint of a fresh/non-descript hairspray/floral/bright/chemical type of scent behind but I can't get past it. It's not awful, just very strong. I'm sensitive to smells but even others noticed, which isn't something I want. Too bad because if it the fragrance was softer or in lighter doses I'd really love this. It does a great job adding volume and the kind of light memory hold for tousled waves or a more roughed up look. It doesn't strip my hair of shine like a lot of dry shampoos do or leave a white, powdery residue in the roots, though it does create a more matte appearance. It doesn't eradicate oily roots like a dry shampoo, so mostly I'd say this is good for adding grip and longevity to clean, flat hair, or for adding a little dryness and body to second day hair. I don't like going longer than two days without washing my hair because it's fine and long and tends to look lank or stringy if I try, but once I went three days using this and it looked fantastic still. The nozzle is easy to grip and control the spray but it's an intense burst of product rather than a light mist that you get in a lot of aerosol sprays so the first time I used it I blasted one spot on my crown a few times and of course it left a weird, slightly tacky residue that no amount of brushing could disguise (which had me pulling it into a tight ponytail for the day since I didn't have time to wash it out and start fresh). For me the best way to use it is a quick spray in a circular motion around the top of my head, then flipping my hair over and spraying a light mist underneath. I rough it up and work it in with my fingers then just style it however. Lots of natural volume. Even after I sleep on it my hair holds its style well and still feels clean. But that smell! I'm not a fan of dry shampoos because they often irritate my scalp and I dislike the lifeless cast they can leave behind, but I love the idea of them. So this being a kind of hybrid product really appealed to me. I hope I can find something similar because this is going back. I would recommend it though if you don't mind a noticeable scent in your hair.
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Palettes -Urban Decay - Naked Basics
LUVrascal 1/8/2013 8:55:00 PM
I don't know why I always expect matte shadows to be dry and hard and chalky... it's some strange misconception on my part. Doesn't matter the brand, I always think I'm going to be scraping into it with a brush. Random. Anyway, I love this little palette. The shadows are really soft and powdery, easy to apply, and the pigmentation is good. It's a nice range of wear-anytime mattes in mostly neutral colors. I have trouble with a lot of browns and purportedly "neutral" crease shades because I'm cool toned, which equals tired and dingy on my skin. These work well on me and I like that the darker shades double as eyeliner. None of the shades seem to overpower my pale skin and there's a lot of versatility here, both on it's own and paired with outside shadows. Great for travel, nice sleek and secure packaging. I liked the other UD Naked palettes quite a bit but this one's so simple and basic and appealing that I can't see anyone going wrong with it, whether you have a huge stash or not. I rarely wear solely matte shadows but I've been having fun using this and going for an entirely matte look on my eyes. I hope they keep putting more palettes like this out!
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Eyeliner -Le Metier de Beaute - Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Noir
LUVrascal 1/7/2013 6:13:00 PM
Best liquid liner ever. Shu Uemura's was my HG for years, but I also used Armani's and Kevyn Aucoin's regularly and liked them a lot as well. This just beats them all though, especially the finish. Perfect velvety matte finish with the richest pure black pigmentation. No grey tones whatsoever. The tip is extremely fine and small, tapering down to a crisp, delicate point so it draws the perfect hair width of a line. Really. I can easily get the thinnest possible line along my lashes. It's also amazing for dotting in between lashes if I'm going for a minimal look or if I just want my lashes to look thicker. It's simple to build up the thickness of the line by building up thin layers if you're not used to liquid liners or you don't have a steady hand, or you can just tilt it a little for one quick thick line. It's amazing for making a little wing tip too. I think what really wins me over is the tiny packaging. It's a slender, small plastic cylinder that's about the same circumference (or smaller) than the average pencil liner. It's easy to grip and get close up against the eye without having this bulky, wide tube to handle. Most often the packaging of liquid liners seems so wide and large, which makes it so much more difficult to hold and apply. This tiny liner takes the difficulty out of the process. It's not watery at all and dries almost immediately so there's no chance of it transferring anywhere. Lasts all day long and then some. I need to use a cleansing oil to remove it rather than my facial cleanser like I do with a lot of my makeup. It's expensive for a liner and it's not refillable, but for me the price is worth it given how error-proof it is and how amazing the quality is. Highly recommend this!
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Lipstick -Burberry - Lip Mist in Pink Heather
LUVrascal 1/7/2013 5:25:00 PM
Beautiful formula that glides on like a balm and feels somewhere between a cushy lipstick and a very light gloss. It's comfortable and moisturizing and makes my lips look healthy, not just covered up in lipstick. There's some slip but it stays put well. Best of all it wears like a lipstick, so it actually lasts for a few hours without fading like a lot of hybrid lipstick products. This has a lovely, subtle shiny finish without shimmer. I expected it to be flatter, more subdued given that it looks matte in the tube. I'd say it's semi-opaque but it might be more so if I swiped on more than one layer. This is one of the most flattering pinks I've ever worn. It's a neutral, medium pink that's a shade or two darker than my natural lip color. Very soft looking with a touch of nude so it doesn't read as solely pink. It could easily fall into the MLBB, even though that's entirely subjective. Still, it's along those lines and I think it'd look great on a variety of skin tones. I'm very pale, usually the lightest shade in any foundation line, and leaning towards cool toned and I love it. It pairs well with anything. The packaging is magnetized so the lid closes pretty securely once it's aligned with the base. It does turn a little bit if it's tossed around in a purse but the lid hasn't ever popped off or anything so far. Polished gunmetal finish is nice to look at but does hold fingerprints. I have Field Rose as well and it's equally fantastic. I didn't expect to like these so much but I wear them often, especially when I want something to just grab and go. The line does pinks really well, especially if you're looking for something very natural that suits your complexion. This color would be perfect for a more conservative work environment too.
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Concealers -Christian Dior - Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen-002 Candlelight
LUVrascal 12/5/2012 9:26:00 PM
Of the concealer/highlighter hybrids out there this one falls into more of the highlighter variety. Less coverage than YSL Touch Eclat and Chanel Stylo Eclat Lumiere, which are two of the highlighter pens that I've used previously. This feels like a product to add to an existing concealer, something I don't want to do. I like a does it all type. I love concealers with some shimmer in it for the light reflective, wide awake aspect and this has a subtle amount, less than Armani's High Precision concealer. It added a nice glow that's wasn't incredibly obvious. This color was a good match for my pale skin (Laura Mercier TM in Porcelain, Armani LSF in No.2, MUFE Duo Mat Powder Foundation in 200), and even with the slight warm undertone it didn't look strange against my cooler tones. It has a very thin, lightweight consistency, and a smooth, silicone based texture that spreads and blends really well and feels like nothing once its on. One click covered both under eye areas with some left over. But since it's not buildable at all that's kind of pointless given that any amount I use, be it tiny or layered, results in the same sheer coverage. That sheerness and the shimmer drew attention to my circles instead of concealing them. It wore all day without creasing or settling oddly, though it did noticeably start to disappear after about four hours so that I felt like my dark circles were showing through. The packaging is fine, along the same lines as every other pen highlighter out there. I did have to turn the dial and click it about sixty times to get the product out initially, and after that it dispensed normally. I don't actually apply it straight to my skin because of keeping the brush hygienic so I just dab a separate clean concealer brush to the attached dispenser brush and apply it that way. I was only able to use this about four times before I experienced a terrible reaction under both eyes and my eye lids. My eyes became swollen, red, and I had hives that burned terribly. That's never happened to me with any concealer before so I must be extremely sensitive to an ingredient in here. I use Dior cosmetics regularly, powder, blushes, eyeshadows, etc. with nothing but good results so it must be a fluke. It was the only thing different I added to my routine so I'm certain this concealer is to blame. I tried this before I bought and fell in love with Armani's High Precision Retouch and ending up returning the Dior. Even discounting the bad reaction I had with the Dior, this still didn't work well as a concealer, and it wasn't long wearing enough for me to like it as a highlighter. Lots of flaws with this one, but luckily I ended up finding my perfect concealer.
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Lotions/ Creams -Bliss Labs - High Intensity Hand Cream
LUVrascal 12/3/2012 7:33:00 PM
The only kind of hand cream I wear is Aquaphor, and that's only at night because it's so thick. During the day I just wear my body sunscreen on my hands because I hate how thick and greasy hand creams feel to me. I haven't tried too many out but I've never found one that I could wear throughout the day that doesn't make me feel like I'm leaving residue and fingerprints on everything I touch. But I'm germ phobic so I wash my hands all the time and my skin gets so dry it feels painful. I bought this on a whim last time I was at Sephora and I can't believe that I actually like it. I use a little dime size dab and it covers both hands entirely. Even though it's a cream it has a light texture, very smooth and emollient. It doesn't feel heavy, thick, or greasy at all. It absorbs completely within a few minutes and my hands feel silky and so soft, kind of coated and protected where I can still tell that I'm wearing something but my hands are dry to the touch and there's no nasty residue or anything unpleasant. I love that there's no stickiness and I'm not leaving fingerprints in my wake. It's really helped with my dryness and my hands feel so much more comfortable now and they look 100% better. I was concerned about the shea butter and macadamia nut oil in here since I've had bad reactions to productsg with shea butter in it before and I'm actually allergic to macadamia nuts. But I've been using this for a little over a month and haven't had any problems at all. The only thing I wish was different about this was the smell. It's not overpowering or noxious to the point that I notice it all the time, but it's there. It's like a faint citrus/clean type of smell with something that I can only equate with shea butter, whether it is or not. It doesn't last that long but for the first half-hour or so I can definitely smell it. The tube is convenient to throw in my purse and there's a good amount of product in here so I think it'll last me another few months at least. It works well enough where I don't have to reapply it all the time, just a few times throughout the day. I'd prefer this to be fragrance free but until I find something that I like better that's entirely scentless I'll stick with this one.
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Blush -Christian Dior - DiorBlush - Strawberry Sorbets 943
LUVrascal 12/3/2012 7:11:00 PM
I love the dual pinks in here. I mix the two together most of the time but it's nice to have the option of either a light or a dark version of the color. Sometimes I just wear the lighter, shimmery side for the softness it gives my look. To me it seems like it has a rosy undertone that prevents it from being too cotton candy pink, though I can see why the name fits since it does have a sweet, candy-like aspect. It's really flattering and isn't too bright or overwhelming for my pale skintone. Since I'm a fan of shimmery blushes I like the finish. It's gives a nice glowy appearance but isn't glittery like Nars Orgasm, for example. The shimmer is very fine but there's lots of it so it is noticeable once it's on skin. Great pigmentation and a very soft texture so a little goes a long way. The slight fragrance doesn't transfer once it's on and I barely notice it in the pan. No irritation or any reactions to this, which is amazing since my skin is very sensitive. I really have to try out more Dior blushes because this is so pretty.
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Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose Doll Lashes
LUVrascal 11/13/2012 6:33:00 PM
I tried Hypnose Drama a couple years ago and it was one of the worst mascaras I've ever worn, which really put me off of Lancome mascaras. Then a few months ago I tried Definicils, which was also a bust. After trying this one, I'm convinced I should have continued to stay away. It's not like this is as awful as the Hypnose, but it only falls into the mediocre category and doesn't give me anything better than average lashes. My lashes are straight, brown, and long but not especially thick so I prefer volume formulas but do like the whole fluttery long-lashed effect too. This didn't give me any added length, which is fine, but it didn't give me any noticeable volume either. The formula is on the dry side so it layers more easily than a thinner, wet formula but it also seems heavy so that it pulled the curl out within an hour and weighed my lashes down. My biggest problem with this was the tiny little mascara deposits (those awful tiny dried bits or drops) it leaves at the tips of my lashes, something I also noticed with the Hypnose Drama. Some of my lashes were coated normally, others were coated at the base, then it seemed to skip the middle part of the lash, then finished with the mascara blob on the ends. I do like the shape of the brush as well as the dense placement of the bristles; it really helps with the application and did separate my lashes well (if I wiped the wand off and only did a single light coat). I noticed the fragrance but it didn't seem overly harsh and it didn't bother my eyes at all. No flaking and it washes off easily. My lashes looked so droopy and coated in an unflattering, inconsistent way. I waited too long to return this but that's the last time I try any mascaras from Lancome.
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Eyeliner -Guerlain - Loose Kohl in Noir
LUVrascal 11/8/2012 2:45:00 PM
The gorgeous packaging is what sucked me in, but I'm not crazy about the kohl. It doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes and it looks beautiful, but the fallout just bugs me. I've applied this first before my face powder so I could clean up any fallout but a few mins later it was all over my under eyes again. I've tried it as a last step after eyeshadow, macara, etc. and still the fallout is inescapable. I think no matter what I do it ends up clinging to the base of my lashes so that every time I blink it scatters the powder. That's the only thing I can figure out since I've tried applying this in as many different ways as I could think of, including a separate tiny eyeliner brush. Because of the extreme pigmentation of the kohl the fallout doesn't just brush away easily either. It sticks to skin and smears when I try to brush it off. But for a few minutes, man my eyes look stunning. I haven't seen a similar effect with any other kohl or dark liner worn in the waterline. It's just so dark, so rich, and the multi-colored fine shimmer makes it smolder in a unique way. I'm surprised at how long lasting it is but it's more water resistant and long wearing than most of my other liners that fall into that category. I really had to work to get this off... it took many q-tips and a ton of my Shu Uemura cleansing oil to remove it all. I've worn loose kohls before but it's by no means as easy for me as a traditional liner. I didn't find it to be as difficult as I expected though; I just ended up using the applicator almost as I would a pencil liner and it went on easily enough if slowly. I wouldn't have minded the extra time to apply and to clean up a bit of fallout if that had been the end of it. Constantly trying to wipe off dark pigment is a pain and not worth it to me. I wish I had better luck with this as so many other reviewers did.
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Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
LUVrascal 11/6/2012 7:51:00 PM
I have tubes of this stuff everywhere. It's one of my favorite products and I love it's versatility. I wear it at night a lot so I can really slather it on and not worry about it getting anywhere. I'm a germ-phobe and so I wash my hands all the time and thus get the worst dry skin, especially around my knuckles. But a little of this every night and it really makes a difference. Softens and soothes my skin and keeps them feeling so much better. I also use it on my lips, my feet, to cover up small cuts and scrapes. It seems to work well for everything. I would never picture putting something like this on my face since I have sensitive skin that doesn't tolerate thick creams well, but I've never had any issues with it. It gets blistering cold at night where I live and I like to jog late, but the wind just becomes painful on my cheeks and nose so I put a light layer of this across my cheekbones and my nose and lips before I go out and I never get wind-chapped. I don't like the jar style packaging so I'm glad there's a squeeze tube version. This is an amazing product and I wouldn't be without it.
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Eye Shadow -Chanel - Illusion d'Ombre Long-wear Luminious Eyeshadow in Emerveille
LUVrascal 11/5/2012 6:26:00 PM
I feel like this could have been more special somehow. I love these types of soft peaches that mimic neutrals but I don't think there's anything incredibly unique about this one. The color has some pink in it, which makes it more wearable for me than a peach that leans orange or yellow. It's good for a quick look in the mornings: just this on the lids and some mascara. Whereas the other colors in this line had a uniqueness of color and that gorgeous micro glitter, this just looks a little too basic in comparison. There's some shimmer but mostly it reads as a shiny, slightly metallic sheen. Plush, soft texture that spreads easily and smoothly and dries completely. Feels a little powdery once its dry and for the most part it stays put. It does rub off if I accidentally touch my eye area or if my eyes water. This particular color has a thicker, less gel-like consistency than the others so it's harder to build up and I find that I have to apply it in a thin layer, otherwise it leaves these thick, dry little cream particles on my lid that are impossible to blend out. Removes easily with my normal facial cleanser. I have MUFE's Aqua Creams in Warm Beige and Pink Beige and between the two of them I think I have all of my long wearing peach shadow bases covered. Still, I've kept this because it blends so much easier than the MUFE versions and feels less drying on my eyelids. I wouldn't repurchase though.
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